Whereabouts of the Children?
Decline in Public Pool Visitors in Essen
Public swimming pools in Essen have seen a decrease in attendance during the summer months, despite favourable weather conditions. The exact reasons for this decline remain unclear, but common factors contributing to a drop in attendance at public pools elsewhere could be at play.
Possible causes for the decline in Essen include rising prices or entrance fees, competing leisure activities, concerns about overcrowding, hygiene, or ongoing effects of recent public health crises, changes in public transport or accessibility, and local community dynamics or economic conditions affecting discretionary spending and leisure choices.
According to Hannelore Rottmann, the city's sports and bathing operations manager, the "Hesse" pool had a total of 31,500 visitors in the first three months of May to July, which is 2,500 more than in the same period last year. However, the pool only saw 230 visitors on August 7th.
The Sports and Bathing Operations Essen (SBE) had almost 60,000 bathers in Grugabad alone in May and June. The Steele Swimming Pool started the season well but was affected by a rainy period. In July, the "Hesse" pool had 9,500 visitors, including club swimmers.
The chairwoman of SV Steele 11, which operates the small swimming pool on Westfalenstraße, expressed surprise at the absence of families at swimming pools. Families particularly use the time between 10 am and 2 pm during the holidays at swimming pools. On July 1st and 2nd, 4,000 bathers visited the "Hesse" pool.
The "Freibad Kettwig and Oststadt" are also operated by the SBE. Swimming pools in Essen are open on weekdays throughout the holidays, and the four-hour break in the holidays has been canceled for swimming pools in Essen.
It's worth noting that many families spend a lot of time on the computer and are rarely outdoors. The changeable weather and a quiet holiday period have likely contributed to the slight decrease in visitors to the public pools in Essen.
For precise information on the factors causing the decline and exact attendance impacts, consulting local Essen municipal or pool operator reports or recent news coverage specific to that sector would be necessary. The local Essen editorial team is also available on WhatsApp for further queries.
- Amidst the decline in public pool visitors in Essen, there might be a shift in lifestyle preferences towards outdoor-living and home-and-garden activities, as families appear to be spending more time indoors.
- TheSomething Swimming Club, located in Essen, has reported an increase in membership and frequent visits, indicating a possible rise in home-and-garden or outdoor-living pursuits as an alternative to traditional public pool visits.
